Assessment of coordination abilities in primary schoolchildren based on the level of movement organization

Aim. The study aimed to develop and theoretically validate a control exercise for the comprehensive assessment of coordination abilities in primary schoolchildren, grounded in the principles of the level organization of movement. Materials and methods. A longitudinal pedagogical observation was conducted as part of a broader monitoring program assessing physical fitness and functional capabilities in primary schoolchildren (n = 500). The study was carried out from 2022 to 2024 at school No. 1476 in Moscow. A systematic review of scientific and methodological literature was performed to evaluate existing control exercises and tests for assessing coordination abilities in this age group. Results. The analysis revealed a research gap: the absence of validated tests assessing hand-foot coordination and spatial-temporaldynamic movement parameters in children aged 7–10 years. A novel exercise was developed combining N.A. Bernstein’s theoretical framework and O.A. Dveirina’s algorithm for test design. This exercise evaluates muscle effort coordination, spatiotemporal coordination of body segments, and the ability to reproduce precise spatial and rhythmic movement patterns, corresponding to Level C (Pyramidal-striatal level of spatial field) in Bernstein’s hierarchy. Conclusion. The proposed control exercise is theoretically justified by Bernstein’s model of movement organization and aligns with the elementary manifestations of coordination abilities in primary schoolchildren, as outlined by Dveirina. The criteria for assessment account for psychophysiological characteristics specific to this developmental stage.